Biomes of the World

What is a biome? A BIOME is the largest geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

How are biomes formed? Biomes are distributed across the Earth based primarily on climate. Therefore, in areas that are far apart, you will sometimes find similar plants and animals because the climate is similar. One factor affecting climate is latitude. Typically, the farther you move north or south of the equator, the colder the temperature gets. Another factor affecting climate is elevation. The higher you go in elevation, the colder the temperature gets. Biomes usually found at cold latitudes far from the equator are sometimes also found on high mountains at low latitudes. Typically, a climb of 100 feet in elevation is equivalent to traveling 600 miles northward.

How many biomes are there?

Tropical Rainforest Tropical Savanna Desert Chaparral Grassland Temperate Deciduous Forest Temperate Boreal Forest Tundra Although there is some disagreement among scientists on how to divide up the Earth’s biomes, most can agree on the following eight:

Tropical Rainforest Typically found near the equator Rainfall:> 200 cm of rain annually Temperatures: Between 20 o C and 25 o C As many as 50% of all the world’s animal species may be found here Orchids, ferns, vines, climbing plants Sloths, jaguars, anteaters, monkeys, toucans, parrots, butterflies, boa constrictors, anacondas Locations: South & Central America, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, Southern India, Northeastern Australia

Tropical Savanna Grasslands with a few scattered trees Experience a wet and dry season Hot temperatures Annual rainfall is between 50 and 127 cm More species of grazing mammals than any other biome Tall perennial grasses, drought tolerant shrubs Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, baboons, zebras Locations: Large parts of Africa, Southern Brazil, Northern Australia

Desert Typically found between 25 o and 40 o latitude Receives less than 25 cm of rain each year Temperatures typically range between 20 o C and 25 o C but some extreme deserts can reach temperatures higher than 38 o C and lower than –15 o C Cacti and succulents Mountain lions, gray fox, bobcats, mule deer, bighorn sheep, tortoises, rattlesnakes, lizards Locations: Africa, Asia, Middle East, United States, South America, Australia

Chaparral Found between 32 o and 40 o latitude on the west coast of continents Receives between 35 and 70 cm of rain, usually in the winter Extremely resistant to drought and weather events Woody evergreen shrubs Coyotes, fox, bobcats, mountain lions, deer, rabbits, squirrels, lizards, snakes Locations: West coast of N. and S. America, Mediterranean Sea area, South Africa, Australia

Grassland Because of the dry climate, trees are found only near water sources such as streams Usually receives between 50 and 90 cm of rainfall each year Summer temperatures can reach up to 38 o C, and winter temperatures can fall to –40 o C Perennial grasses and herbs Coyotes and badgers, wolves, grizzly bear, rabbits, prairie dogs, hawks, owls, snakes Locations: Central Asia, N. America, Australia, Central Europe

Temperate Deciduous Forest Moderate climate Most trees will lose their leaves in the winter Temperatures range between –30 o C and 30 o C Averages from 75 to 150 cm of precipitation Well developed understory Deciduous trees, some conifers, mosses and fern Deer, black bear, bobcats, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, songbirds Locations: Eastern US, SE Canada, most of Europe, Parts of Japan, China & Australia

Temperate Boreal Forest Also known as Taiga Typically found between 45 o and 60 o North latitude Cold climate with summer rains Very few reptiles Limited understory Snow is primary form of precipitation (40 – 100 cm annually) Needleleaf conifers such as spruce and fir, berry-bearing shrubs Timber wolves, lynxes, moose, beavers Locations: North America, Asia, and northern Europe

Tundra Means treeless or marshy plain Characterized by permafrost – permanently frozen soil starting as high as a few centimeters below the surface – which severely limits plant growth Winter temperatures average –34 o C while summer temperatures usually average below 10 o C Low precipitation (15–25 cm per year) but ground is usually wet because of low evaporation Mosses, lichens, short grasses A few birds and mammals that can stand harsh conditions, artic fox, caribou Locations: Northern North America, Asia, Europe

Credits Text: – – Pictures: – – – PowerPoint: –Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2005